Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-02-23

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They ,calked aoith the abstraction of people
hearing only their o,cn uoiceS
II don't mean to say" said Kate demurely,
"that you're to give up the serape entirely;
you can wear it on rainy nights and when
you ride over here from your friends house
to spend the evening-for the sake of old
times" she added, with an unconscious air Of
referring to an already antiquated friend
ship; "but you must admit it's little too
gorgeous and theatrical for the sunlight of
day and the public highway"
"But why should that make it wrong, if the
experience of people has shown it to be
garment best fitted for their wants and re-
quirementsp said Falkner argumentatively.
"But you are not one of those people" said
Kate, "and that makes oil the difference.
You look differently and act differently. so
that there is something irreconcilable between
your clothes and you that makes you look
odd"
aAnd to look odd, according to your civil.
lied prejudices, is to be wrong" )" said Falkner
bitterly.
"It is to seem different from what one
really il which is wrong. Now, you are
mining superintendent, you tell me. Then
you don't want to look like Spanish brig
and, as you do in that serape. l am sure If
you had ridden up to stage coach while I
was in it I'd have handed you my watch
and purse without word. There! you are
not offended7" she added, with a laugh,
which did not, however, conceal certain
earnestness 81 suppose ought to have said
would have given it gladly to such ro-
mantle figure, and perhaps have got out and
danced saraband or bolero with you-if
that is the thing to do nowadays. Well!" she
she said, after dangerous pause, consider
that I've said it."
He had been walking little before her,
with his face turned toward the distant
mountain. Suddenly he stopped and faced
her.
"You would have given enough of your
time to the highwayman, Miss Scott, as
would have enabled you to identify him for.
the police-and no more. Like your brother,
you would have been willing to sacrifice
yourself for the benefit of the laws Of ciriliza.
ton and good order"
II a denial to this assertion could have been
expressed without the use of speech, it was
certainly transparent in the face and eyes Of
the young girl at that moment. If Falkner
had been less self-conscious he would have
seen it plainly. But Kate only buried her
face in her lifted muff, slightly raised her
pretty shoulders, and, dropping her tremulous
eyelds, walked OH. ut seems a pity" she
said after a pause, "that we cannot preserve
our own miserable existence without taking
something from others-somctimes even
lfe!' lie started. "And it's horrid to have
to remind you that you have yet to kill some
thing for the invalid's supper, she continued.
II saw hare in the field yonder."
"You mean that jackass rabbit?" he said
abstractedly.
"What you please. It's pity you didn't
take your gun instead of your rifle"
II brought the rifle for protection"
"And shotgun is only aggressive, I sup
pose?"
Falkner looked at her for moment and
then, as the hare suddenly started across the
open hundred yards away, brought the rife
to his shoulder. long interval-as it seemed
to Kate-elapsed; the animal appeared to bo
already safely out of range, when the rife
suddenly cracked; the hare bounded in the
air like ball and dropped motionless. The
girl looked at the marksman in undisguised
admiration. ais it quite dead." she said
timidly.
at never knew what struck it,"
1T certainly looks less brutal than shoot
ing it with a shotgun, as John does. and then
not killing it outright" said Kate II hate
what is called sport and sportsmen, but
rifle SEEMS
"Whats" said Falkner.
"More-gentlemanly."
She had raised her pretty head III the air,
and, with her hand shading her eyes, was
looking around the clear ether, and said
meditatively, ~ wonder-no matter"
"What is it!"
"Oh, nothing"
ut is something" said Falkner with en-
amused smile, reloading his rifle
"Well, you once promised me an eagles
feather for my hat. Isn't that thing an
eagle?"
II am afraid it is only hawk"
"Well, that will do. Shoot that!"
Her eyes were sparkling. Falkner with.
drew his own with slight smile and raised
his rife with provoking deliberation.
"Are you quite sure it's what you want!"
he asked demurely.
"Yes-quickm
the rifle cracked again. The wheeling bird
suddenly struck the wind with its wings
aslant, and then fell like pluinmet at a
distance which showed the difficulty of the
feat Falkner started from her side before
the bird reached the ground. He returned to
her after lapse of few moments, bearing
trailing wing III his hand You shall make
your choice" he said gayly.
'Are you sure it was killed outrighty'
"Head shot off," said Falkner briefly.
"And, besides, the fall would have killed
it," said Kate conclusiveIy. "Its lovely. I
suppose they call you very good shot!'
"They-who?"
"Oh! the people you know-your friends
and their sisters"
George shoots better than do, and has
had more experience. I've seen him do that
with pistol. Of course not such u long shot,
but more difficult one"
Kate did not reply, but her face showed a
conviction that as an artistic and gentle
manly performance it was probably in
ferior to the one she had witnessed. Falkner,
who had picked up the hare also, again took
his place by her side, as they turned toward
the house.
"Do you remember the day you came,
when we We're walking here, you pointed out
that rock on the mountain where the poor
animals had taken refuge from the snowl'
said Kate, suddenly.
"Yes," answered Falkner; "they seem to
have diminished am afraid you were rights.
they have either eaten each other or escaped.
Let US hope the latter"